Younis takes his duty into the record books

Rohan Kanhai's innings from almost half a century ago was erased from the record books yesterday after more than 11 hours of diligent scratching by Younis Khan, whose epic 267 provided the bulk of Pakistan's first-innings total of 570 in the third Test. It was the highest Test score by a visiting batsman in India, surpassing Kanhai's 256 for West Indies at Kolkata on the last day of 1958 and the first day of 1959.

"The price of greatness is responsibility," Winston Churchill once said but responsibility can also be the route to greatness. Of all the qualities evident in Younis's innings this was the one that defined it. As wickets fell at the other end he was required to stay at the crease, not to let the tempo flag and to punish wayward bowling. He managed it all, playing few loose shots and wasting few loose balls.

"When I was made vice-captain people advised me to take the opportunity to bat lower down the order in a safer position. But I thought of how I had been thrust into the No3 position in 2000 against the West Indies and [Court ney] Walsh and [Curtly] Ambrose. I did not want to put a young player in that position. I took it upon myself," he said.

Younis was assailed after his appointment for not deserving a place in the side but that did not play on his mind. "I never play with fear," he said. "I just enjoy my game. If I am dropped from the side tomorrow, I will go and play cricket somewhere else."

That is not likely. Younis's batting had power and subtlety. His driving, pulling and cutting were precise and forceful and, when Anil Kumble left him an open off-side field, he reverse-swept him, making the shot look almost orthodox.

At the other end wickets fell, Harbhajan Singh taking six for 152. He flighted the ball beautifully and occasionally turned it viciously. The wicket he was proudest of, he said, was that of Abdul Razzaq. "I tossed the ball up, he tried to play the cover-drive and I took the catch," he said. It was a classic off-spinner's dismissal. But did he bowl the doosra ? "Yes," he said. "And why shouldn't I? The ICC had cleared it."

Virender Sehwag smashed a belligerent 39 off 33 balls as India began their reply well, leaving both teams confident of achieving their objectives.